Sensor cleaner

• US 10,286,880 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2017
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Schmidt, David, Rhode, Douglas Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Kornakov, Mikhail
• Assistant Examiner(s): Campbell, Natasha N
• Application Number:
  US15/468,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20180272998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 781 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/00 Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas B05B3/00, B05B5/00 , B05B11/06 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/2424 the carried liquid and the main stream of atomising fluid being brought together downstream of the container before discharge B05B7/2435 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/02 Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 5/02 Cleaning by the force of jets, e.g. blowing-out cavities airguns or nozzles per se B05B1/005
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/08 fluid
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/54 using gas, e.g. hot air
• CPC Class Codes: B60S 1/56 specially adapted for cleaning other parts or devices than front windows or windscreens rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior including cleaning devices B60R1/0602
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/0006 with means to keep optical surfaces clean, e.g. by preventing or removing dirt, stains, contamination, condensation G02B1/18 takes precedence; cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

A system includes a nozzle directed toward a sensor window and a Venturi valve including a discharger that is connected to the nozzle. The Venturi valve is connected to a fluid input valve and an air source.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a nozzle directed toward a sensor window; and

a Venturi valve including a suction chamber, an internal nozzle directed to the suction chamber, and a discharger that is connected to the nozzle, wherein the Venturi valve is connected to a fluid input valve and an air source.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a computer that is programmed to, upon determining to clean the sensor window, actuate the fluid input valve to open.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining that the sensor window is clean, actuate the fluid input valve to shut off.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the computer is further programmed to, upon determining to clean the sensor window, first, actuate the air source, and then actuate the fluid input valve to open.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the air source includes a compressor and the computer is further programmed to actuate the compressor to at least one of turn on and turn off.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the fluid input valve includes a solenoid valve and the computer is programmed to actuate the solenoid valve to at least one of open and close.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the system has a plurality of modes of operation including an air only mode and a mixing mode.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the Venturi valve further includes a constriction zone disposed between the suction chamber and the discharge.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is fluidly coupled via a hose to the discharger of the Venturi valve.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is mechanically coupled to the discharger of the Venturi valve.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second nozzle directed toward the sensor window; and

a second Venturi valve including a second discharger that is connected to the second nozzle, the second Venturi valve connected to a second fluid input valve and the air source.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second nozzle directed toward a second sensor window, wherein the nozzle and the second nozzle are fluidly coupled to the discharger of the Venturi valve.

13. A method, comprising:

determining to clean a sensor window; and

actuating a fluid input valve to open, wherein a nozzle connected to a discharger of a Venturi valve is directed toward the sensor window and the Venturi valve is connected to the fluid input valve and an air source, wherein the Venturi valve includes a suction chamber, an internal nozzle directed to the suction chamber.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising, upon determining that the sensor window is clean, actuating the fluid input valve to shut off.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising, upon determining that a wait time has elapsed, actuating the fluid input valve to shut off.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising, upon determining to clean the sensor window, first, actuating the air source, and then actuating the fluid input valve to open.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein determining to clean the sensor is based at least in part on data received from a second sensor.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein determining to clean the sensor is based at least in part on opacity of the sensor window.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising actuating the fluid input valve to adjust a flow of fluid to the Venturi valve.